New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-12
JJ. OBRIEy FLATLY REFUSED


THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS SEEM TO BE OF ONE
MIND ABOrT HIS CHANCES
John j. OrI,rien I'D not appear to be discouraged
ycser,lsy because his name had not been liaced Oh
tho Civil list o; eligible applicants Tor INC
Office OF Che. Of The Bu eau OF Eiec'"hs' ~
reporter hu -al:
have given expectation OF remaining In onice
While the l.y may give preference veterans in an
examination. / sti believe that was exenp. ,ron
civil Service examination under the law Before went
into the examination sent COMMUNICATION 10 the onco
Board stating saat did not waive any OF my rights u
be- considered 81 igibe for reappontmen Without an eA
animation intend to make an appeal TO the courts II
the board refuses to consider my claim.
Mr.. o'Bten aneru ard appeared before the board
and presented tho following:
GENTLEMEN: Notwithstanding the fact that in the re-
cent examination by the Civil Service Board for candidates
for the position Chief OF the Bureau OF Elections re-
ceiyed the largest percentage I'm such examinations TO Wit
"a 49, claim eligible and entitled to be considered
by you. by virtue OF section {, chaptec $40
Of the Of Issi, the candidates oi appoint
men Chief OF the Bureau OF Elections and also upon thn
ground stated in a previous communication by me 10 inc
hoard on the same subject. JOHN J. oBRrES.
Tho Commissioners had discussion upon MI
OBrien's communication and decided that they could
not consider him eligible for rcaprointmeht' cSSi''
Voorhis and Porter SURPRISED when MI Mc'ia'o
offered tho following resolution, but they helped TO
pass it by unanimous vote:
On reading and Ming the communication from John j.
o. Bren,
him that his name appear upon the Civil service
list OF names eligible TO appointment to the once
OF CHIEF Elections and, until docs thec
on appear, be considered in that connection BY the
Board OF Police.
few minutes after tho resolution had passed, MI
yoorhls suggested that II bo reconsdered lie saw
that the Of the board might be OF some help 10
MIR OBricn in application to tho coufts Tor an
Injunction Commissioners French and McClave OBJ
jeced to reconsideration OF the boads action but
they discaimed any Intention TO pavo Mr.. o Bnen >
,v,v tn n fight in tho courts. II was conceded thSt
IL Mfr O Bnen obtained an injunction restraining tho
hoard from acting the civil Service eligible st ne
might BIO able to hold over much longer
commissioner Poner sand AFTER the meeting tha'
Mr.. O'Brlcn could not DO reappointed for ~cverh
.eaaons Tho Corporation Counsel had given m
opinloa that tho Police Board must call for CiVl
service eligible l-t and act on II. Under the law
veterans wcro given tho preference in appointments
and Mr. O Brlcu could not have been legally appointed
- his name had been on the eligible list In company
with those OF two veterans. General Porter also
admitted that in any event the Democratic members
90 tho Board OF Police would not vote to reappoint
NJ. O'Bricn
Tho other Commissioners said that they cd not see
how Mr. O'Bricn could be reappOintcA Mcssrs
French and McCIave declined to say # they were IN
favor Of appointing Of tho three eligible applicants
for Mr. O'Bnen's Office II was said that no motion
had been made to appoint either OF the applicants